Saturday, January 31, 2009

"QUESTION: How long do I have to decide whether I want to appeal [my case]?

ANSWER: Appeals are subject to strict time limits. A defendant may have to file a paper called a notice of appeal very soon, often within 7 to 10 days after the entry of the final judgment.

A notice of appeal tells the prosecution and the court that the defendant intends to bring an appeal. Defendants who later change their minds may withdraw notices of appeal without penalty, but if they don't first file their notices in time, they will likely have lost their right to appeal." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook" By: Bergman & Berman-Barrett

Friday, January 30, 2009

"[Gary] Webb spent more than a year uncovering the shady connection between the CIA and drug trafficking through the agency’s relationship with the Nicaraguan contras, a right-wing army that aimed to overthrow the leftist Sandinista government during the 1980s. The Sandinistas were Marxist rebels who came to power in 1979 after the collapse of decades of U.S.-backed dictatorship at the hands of the Somoza family. President Reagan called the contras 'freedom fighters' and compared them to America’s founding fathers. Even as Reagan uttered those words, the CIA was aware that the many of the contras' supporters were deeply involved in cocaine smuggling, and were using the money to fund their army, or, as more often proved the case, to line their own pockets.

Many reporters has written about the CIA's collusion with contra drug smugglers, but nobody had ever discovered where those drugs ended up once they reached American soil. 'Dark Alliance [Gary Webb's tome] provided the first dramatic answer to that mystery by profiling the relationship between a pair of contra sympathizers in California, Danilo Blandon and Norwin Menses, and ‘Freeway’ Ricky Ross, the most notorious crack dealer in the history of South Central’s crack trade.

'Dark Alliance' created history in another way: it was the first major news expose to be published simultaneously in print and on the internet. Ignored by the mainstream media at first, the story nonetheless spread like wildfire through cyberspace and talk radio. It sparked angry protests around the country by African-Americans who had long suspected the government had allowed drugs into their communities. Their anger was fueled by the fact that 'Dark Alliance' didn’t just show that the contras had supplied a major crack dealer with cocaine, or that the cash had been used to fund the CIA’s army in Central America- but also strongly implied that this activity had been critical to the nationwide explosion of crack cocaine that had taken place in America during the 1980s.

It was an explosive charge, although a careful reading of the story showed that Webb had never actually stated that the CIA had intentionally started the crack epidemic. In fact, Webb never believed the CIA conspired to addict anybody to drugs. Rather, he believed that the agency had known that the contras were dealing cocaine, and hadn't lifted a finger to stop them. He was right, and the controversy over 'Dark Alliance'- which many consider to be the biggest media scandal of the 1990s- would ultimately force the CIA to admit it has lied for years about what it knew and when it knew it." -From, "Kill The Messenger: How The CIA’s Crack-Cocaine Controversy Destroyed Journalist Gary Webb" By: Nick Schou

Since NYC is allegedly hemorrhaging dollars, Mayor Bloomberg has decided to plug up all the holes with deep budget cuts.

According to The New York Daily News: A slew of city jobs will be cut, there will be tax hikes, and services like- paramedic, firefighter, child care, and homeless prevention services- will be slashed.

[SIDEBAR: DEAR MR. MAYOR, MAYBE IF YOU CEASE THAT CITY-APPROVED/TAXPAYER-FUNDED NEW YANKEE STADIUM FIASCO, THE CITY COULD COME UP ON A 10-FIGURE AMOUNT EASY!!!

WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, TELL MR. GOVERNOR THAT HE DOESN'T NEED RUGS WITH 5-FIGURE PRICE TAGS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION. THE RECENTLY PURCHASED RUG, REPORTEDLY DECORATING HIS OFFICE COULD BE SOMEBODY'S SALARY FOR A YEAR!]

PLEASE PASS THIS ON! (EACH ONE TEACH ONE OR TWO!) THIS IS PHASE ONE ON HOW WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN & EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY:The 2008 not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case evoked outrage, emotion, and debate. It is not an anomaly that the police officers involved in the Sean Bell slaying were acquitted of all charges on all counts in State Supreme Court. I could run out of ink printing the names of people who have been victimized by the inaptly named justice system.

The American justice system has been especially terroristic towards the African American community. Many community members can cite historic and personal accounts to prove this. Therefore, it would be foolhardy (at the least) to turn to a system that has methodically oppressed us, and request that they free us. We can only free ourselves through extreme discipline and intelligent planning.

As a community we have been too compliant with leaders who organize ineffective, delayed reactions. The only strategy that can save us in this last hour is one that calls for a collective code of conduct that will be conducive to improving the conditions of our community, and shifting the paradigm of how we are treated by outside entities. The first step of this code of conduct should be based on economics.

The old adage of “money talks,” still reigns true in the new millennium. Any political scientist worth his or her library card will tell you that: “Economic powerlessness equals political powerlessness,” and conversely “economic power equals political power.” This means that if we continue to allow our wealth to be extracted from our community, we will remain impotent.

The power of the collective “Black Dollar” is often discussed. However, that power has been left unchanneled. Today is the day to change that. A one-time boycott is not going to bring long-term change and respect to our community. Our community has launched boycotts before. Our success and ascension will be based on what we consistently do. For this reason, we should initiate “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS.”

BUY BLACK FRIDAYS is a small step towards our community acquiring power via controlling our economics. Every Friday, people who acknowledge the injustice and oppression that the African American community has been consistently subjected to should do one of the following:

Option #1: Spend $0 on FridayOption #2: Spend no more than $10 on FridayOption #3: Only Shop at Black Businesses on Friday[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE OPTIONS CAN & SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON A DAILY BASIS. However, we can all at the very least focus on Fridays. This way we can take a collective stand and build our collective discipline. Please remember that this is only Phase 1!].

To the people who are tempted to label “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS” as racist, I say this: In the big scheme of things, this is about right & wrong, justice & injustice. The African American community is a strong, proud community that has endured the brunt of America’s iron fist. We must stop the pounding. I feel that any fair-minded individual will concur, and join in.

ANY business that is privileged to enjoy the support of the African American community MUST return that support.

A Republican representative from Long Island has introduced a bill that would make it mandatory that cellphones make a sound when they are being utilized to take pictures. According to The Gothamist, Japan already has such a law in place.

Some citizens have reasoned that if this law is passed, it would deter people from using their camera phones in a way that could help someone. For example, a camera sound could alert a predator that their picture is being taken. On the other side of things, contemplate how such a law would assist the controllers of an Orwellian 1984-type of society.

The Gothamist says that the aforementioned bill is part of the proposed Camera Phone Predator Alert Act, and it is not likely that the act will pass in its current form.

"If you let the world define you, you are dead, and that is all there is to it. If you let the spirit define you, you have a life that even death itself cannot intimidate or extinguish." -Peter J. Gomes

Thursday, January 29, 2009

"One day, a sparrow flies into a stinking piggery where she watches a swine gobble down his food.

Seeing his unexpected visitor, the swine starts boasting about his life. 'I live like a king here. I don't even have to lift a paw to get something to eat. Several times a day, someone comes to bring me food. I do nothing but eat and sleep- what a life!'

The little bird says nothing.

'How you must envy me,' says the swine, as he fills his mouth with swill.

'It is you who must be envious of me,' trills the sparrow.

'I? Envy you? Never!' protests the swine loudly. 'I am like a king in this pen while you have to work for your food. You are a slave to your needs!'

At this the sparrow flies away, leaving the swine munching his meal noisily.

After sometime, the sparrow returns to the piggery. Piercing screams are coming from the pen. Flying nearer, she sees the plump swine being led to a nearby slaughterhouse.

The swine looks up and sees the sparrow. While he strains again the rope that binds him, the swine tells the little bird, 'I lived like a king and now I shall die like a slave.'

After uttering these words, the swine sees the butcher sharpening his knife. As he follow the flight of the sparrow with envious eyes, he feels the knife at his throat." -Author Unknown

The United States' biggest creditor, China, is pointing the finger at America for being the cause of the world's financial woes. According to The Wall Street Journal, China's Premier voiced this opinion at the annual gathering of the world's economic and political leaders.

Reportedly China feels that it was duped into investing into American financial institutions- which they thought were safe, only to be pummeled by their investments' collapse. The Wall Street Journal states that China brought a $5.6 billion stake in Morgan Stanley. This was allegedly before the bailout blitz began. China also reportedly has holdings in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

An American soldier who discovered that he didn't agree with the reasoning behind the Iraqi war in which he was engaged, deserted the army and fled to a refugee center in Germany. The former soldier is now seeking political asylum.

According to The Wall Street Journal, this situation will test a European Union directive that was created in 2004. Under the directive, member countries can grant asylum to soldiers who are protesting unlawful wars.

If the A.W.O.L soldier's request for asylum is denied by Germany, he could face up to 5 years in a U.S. Prison due to American military laws.

"We have a wonderful history behind us...It reads like the history of a people in a heroic age...We are going back to that beautiful history and it is going to inspire us to great achievements." -Carter G. Woodson

ANSWER: Yes, in felony cases, in states that operate a two-tiered system of trial courts. One arraignment takes place in the lower tier, and a second arraignment in the higher tier court if the lower tier court decides in a preliminary hearing that the case should proceed as a felony." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook" By: Bergman & Berman-Barrett

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Mastercard is currently testing out new technology that will allow cellphones to function as credit cards. The test is being run in New York, Atlanta, and The Bay Area. According to The New York Times, the cellphone as credit card technology has already been implemented in Japan for the past five years.

The cellphone as a credit card technology embeds a user's account number onto the phone, sim card, or SD card. The phone is then waved in front of a scanner that can read the information and complete a financial transaction.

Am I the only one who thinks that all of this technology is getting a little out of hand?

After recently being financially rescued by a bailout funded by taxpayers' money, Citigroup Inc. planned to purchase a $50 million jet.

According to CNN, the bank company planned to go through with the purchase as late as Monday. However, criticism from government officials has halted the purchase. Michigan Senator Carl Levin has been quoted as saying: "To permit Citigroup to purchase a plush plane- foreign-built no less- while domestic auto companies are being required to sell off their jets is a ridiculous double standard."

Citigroup, which has reportedly received $45 billion from the government in bailout funds, argued that the new plane would have cut their costs. They also protested that they planned to finance the jet purchase by selling off their older jets, and that cancelling their intended purchase will force them to pay millions of dollars in penalties.

[SIDEBAR: Is this bailout going to be the epic fail of the 21st century? Putting an influx of cash into the same "executive" hands that sunk U.S. corporations is the first place cannot be a good idea.

Also, quick question: Why didn't Citigroup finance part of their own bailout by selling off their corporate jets? The taxpayers need their money!

If power doesn't change hands in the corporate and political world soon, there's going to be no saving this proverbial titanic.]

"Arraignment judges typically call cases in the following order: Cases in which defendants are represented by private counsel; Non-custody defendants who are representing themselves; and Defendants who are represented by the public defenders or other court appointed counsel, or defendants who are in custody.

This order awards first preference to private attorney cases and lowest priority to public defender cases, perhaps on the grounds that public defender clients are not paying for their attorneys' time and public defenders often have to spend the whole day in court anyway." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook" By: Bergman & Berman-Barrett

Monday, January 26, 2009

Undercover police officers falsely arrested four men for the sale of narcotics at a Queens nightclub. The pair of officers complicit in the act were indicted a few days ago for the offense.

The officers allegedly tampered with evidence and falsified reports in order to make the arrest. Their motive for the unconscionable act was reportedly an attempt to boost their overtime pay.

The four men who were falsely arrested and imprisoned were exonerated when security video obtained from the site of the arrest proved that the undercover cops had no contact with the four men inside of the nightclub during a buy and bust operation as they had claimed.

One of the police officers involved in this incident has retired. The other officer has been placed on desk duty. According to The New York Daily News, "each [officer] faces up to nine years in prison for unlawful imprisonment, conspiracy, official misconduct, and other charges."

In 2011, Pfizer's patent on its high-earning cholesterol drug, Lipitor will expire.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Lipitor accounts for about 25% of the drug giant's sales. In 2008, the sale of the drug reportedly raked in $12.7 billion in revenue.

With the patent protection of Lipitor set to cease in approximately 2 years, Pfizer will soon be vulnerable to other drug manufacturers using their profitable formula to create a comparable cholesterol pharmaceutical. Ergo, Pfizer is attempting to be proactive to protect their future bottom line. Part of their profit-protecting strategy is their current attempt to purchase advil manufacturer, Wyeth.

"Defendants who think they may financially qualify for a court-appointed attorney should ask the judge for one when their case is called. Usually, an attorney is present in the arraignment courtroom to represent indigent defendants who want legal help. It's only necessary for you to say something like, 'Your honor, I want to talk to a lawyer before I do anything.' At that point, the judge will put the case aside until after the defendant has spoken to the lawyer." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook" By: Bergman & Berman-Barrett

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Earlier this week, a story broke about the alleged criminal misconduct of correction officers at the Rikers Island juvenile facility. The C.O.s are accused of forming a gang among the teenage inmates, and using them as enforcers- with deadly results. [SIDEBAR: I'll do an entry about this entry soon.]

Here's what author, Christian Parenti, wrote about prison gangs and their relationship to the prison administration in his book, "Lockdown America":

"'Inmates dramatically outnumber guards, so the prison has a vested interest in keeping the inmate population divided against itself rather than against them. Guards need to channel any kind of unrest away from themselves and onto another group.' Former prisoner Johnny Spain agrees: 'When Blacks and Whites fought, guards turned the other way- or worse, provided the White inmates with weapons. I realized that prisoners killing prisoners only made life easier for the guards.'

San Francisco County Deputy Sheriff Michael Marcum, a former prisoner who, quite amazingly, is now a jail warden, tells the same story about the utility of prison gangs: 'It's important to understand that prisons are fearful, dangerous places even for staff. So a staff can- if you're an officer and you've gotta supervise 200 people on a tier, it's a lot easier for you if that tier is split up into five bickering factions rather than having 200 people all looking at you as, 'Gee, why should we comply with the rules and regulations he's putting out?' So there is also that sort of staff encouragement of this kind of thing in many institutions." -From, "Lockdown America" By: Christian Parenti

This week, two police officers plead guilty to disorderly conduct charges for a Halloween-night incident that occurred in 2007.

On October 31, 2007, the two police officers decided to punish a 14-year old who was allegedly throwing eggs at cars. The officers drove the Staten Island teen to a swampy area near high-voltage electricity lines, beat him, stripped him of his clothing, and abandoned him in the deserted area. The teen was made to navigate his way back to civilization shoeless in his boxer shorts. The officers will not serve any jail time for their actions.

[SIDEBAR: Disorderly conduct??? What about kidnapping, assault, robbery, and endangering the welfare of a child (for starters)?]

Despite having recently layed off thousands of workers to cut costs, drug giant Pfizer Inc. is reportedly close to closing a deal in which they will pay between $65 and $70 billion to acquire Wyeth. According to The Wall Street Journal, Wyeth (The company that manufactures Advil), is the world's third largest biotechnology company.

With the announcement of the pending merger, stocks of both companies jumped approximately 13%. Although Pfizer allegedly has a strong cash flow and credit rating, and Wyeth allegedly has low debt- making the companies seem like a good match for a merger- the deal is not written in stone. It could still fall through. Johnson & Johnson also reportedly has an interest in purchasing Wyeth.

The Fair Pay Act is expected to be the first bill that President Barack Obama signs into law. According to The Wall Street Journal, the bill won "Senate approval late Thursday after the House approved it earlier this month."

The Fair Pay Act will allow employees to file claims of discrimination against their employer within 180 days of receiving their most recent paycheck, despite when the acts of discrimination occurred. This law will also reportedly give employees the opportunity to get back-pay for up to 2 years prior to a filed claim for unfair wages.

"Mens rea is latin for "guilty mind." The mens rea concept expresses a belief that people should be punished (fined or imprisoned) only when they have acted with an intent or purpose that makes them morally blameworthy." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook" By: Bergman & Berman-Barrett

PLEASE PASS THIS ON! (EACH ONE TEACH ONE OR TWO!) THIS IS PHASE ONE ON HOW WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN & EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY:The 2008 not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case evoked outrage, emotion, and debate. It is not an anomaly that the police officers involved in the Sean Bell slaying were acquitted of all charges on all counts in State Supreme Court. I could run out of ink printing the names of people who have been victimized by the inaptly named justice system.

The American justice system has been especially terroristic towards the African American community. Many community members can cite historic and personal accounts to prove this. Therefore, it would be foolhardy (at the least) to turn to a system that has methodically oppressed us, and request that they free us. We can only free ourselves through extreme discipline and intelligent planning.

As a community we have been too compliant with leaders who organize ineffective, delayed reactions. The only strategy that can save us in this last hour is one that calls for a collective code of conduct that will be conducive to improving the conditions of our community, and shifting the paradigm of how we are treated by outside entities. The first step of this code of conduct should be based on economics.

The old adage of “money talks,” still reigns true in the new millennium. Any political scientist worth his or her library card will tell you that: “Economic powerlessness equals political powerlessness,” and conversely “economic power equals political power.” This means that if we continue to allow our wealth to be extracted from our community, we will remain impotent.

The power of the collective “Black Dollar” is often discussed. However, that power has been left unchanneled. Today is the day to change that. A one-time boycott is not going to bring long-term change and respect to our community. Our community has launched boycotts before. Our success and ascension will be based on what we consistently do. For this reason, we should initiate “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS.”

BUY BLACK FRIDAYS is a small step towards our community acquiring power via controlling our economics. Every Friday, people who acknowledge the injustice and oppression that the African American community has been consistently subjected to should do one of the following:

Option #1: Spend $0 on FridayOption #2: Spend no more than $10 on FridayOption #3: Only Shop at Black Businesses on Friday[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE OPTIONS CAN & SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON A DAILY BASIS. However, we can all at the very least focus on Fridays. This way we can take a collective stand and build our collective discipline. Please remember that this is only Phase 1!].

To the people who are tempted to label “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS” as racist, I say this: In the big scheme of things, this is about right & wrong, justice & injustice. The African American community is a strong, proud community that has endured the brunt of America’s iron fist. We must stop the pounding. I feel that any fair-minded individual will concur, and join in.

ANY business that is privileged to enjoy the support of the African American community MUST return that support.

"Be happy. Talk happiness. Happiness calls out responsive gladness in others. There is enough sadness in the world without yours...Never doubt the excellence and permanence of what is yet to be. Join the great company of those who make the barren places of life fruitful with kindness...Your success and happiness lie in you...The great enduring realities are love and service...Resolve to keep happy and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties." —Helen Keller

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Earlier this week New York City's medical examiner ruled that the October 2008 death of a New York resident was due to toxic dust inhaled at The World Trade Center's Ground Zero. Leon Heyward died of cancer, which doctors believe was brought on by Mr. Heyward's early exposure to the deadly 9/11 site.

According to The Gothamist, the heroic Mr. Heyward "worked as an investigator, and helped get handicapped co-workers out at The Department of Consumer Affairs office on Church Street after the planes hit."

After the event, as time progressed, Leon Heyward's physical ailments began to emerge. He reportedly suffered from seizures, and other neurological illnesses. Despite his severe symptoms, Leon Heyward was denied worker's compensation during his lifetime. This is no way for the city to treat our heroes.

The computer chip manufacturer, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), has agreed to sell the assets that are the foundation of their hand-held semiconductor business. The buyer is Qualcomm Inc. The purchasing price is reportedly $65 million.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Qualcomm has agreed to hire some of AMD's ex-employees to be a part of their staff. Qualcomm feels that the new acquisition will bolster their multimedia technologies.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), a United Nations court, has unanimously found that the United States violated an international treaty when they executed a Mexican citizen in Texas last year.

Jose Medellin was executed by lethal injection after being convicted of raping and killing two teenagers. The ICJ found that his execution was unlawful because Medellin was denied access to his consulate upon arrest.

According to CNN, the United states has responded by stating, "Federal officials cannot force states to comply [with the treaty.] Administration officials also said that President [Bush] did all he could to force state compliance and that Congress now needs to intervene with specific legislation."

"Like any other people, like fathers, mothers, sons and daughters in every land, when the issue of peace or war has been put squarely to the American people, they have registered for peace." -Paul Robeson

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

New technology has reduced the profits that newspapers used to generate from advertising sales. With this, newspapers worldwide are now being sold off, or are aggressively seeking investors.

London's "main afternoon newspaper," The Evening Standard has sold a controlling stake of its enterprise to Russian billionaire, Alexander Lebedev. While the exact dollar amount of the deal is currently undisclosed, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the majority interest was sold for "a nominal sum." The deal is expected to be finalized in February.

[SIDEBAR: First The New York Times sells off a large share of its paper to a foreign investor, and now The Evening Standard does the same.]

Right before leaving office, George W. Bush commuted the sentences of two former Border Patrol agents. The two agents, who were convicted in 2005, were serving 11 and 12 year sentences for shooting an unarmed man who was reportedly fleeing from them.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the two officers were convicted in a federal court in Texas on charges that included assault and civil rights violations. Most of the charges were upheld on appeal. The victim of the shooting survived his wounds, and is currently suing the U.S. government.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The New York Times infused their company with $250 million, obtained from billionaire Carlos Slim- at an interest rate of approximately 14%. According to The Wall Street Journal, "The main reason for Times Co.'s liquidity crisis is that it borrowed heavily when business conditions were better."

Carlos Slim, the new New York Times' investor, is reportedly one of the planet's richest men. His financial wealth has been estimated at a combined figure of $60 billion.

The Justice Department, also known as The Department of Justice (or, The DOJ), is a United States federal department. It is responsible for enforcing federal laws- which includes civil rights laws, antitrust laws, immigration laws, and homeland security laws.

The Justice Department was created in 1870, with the passage of The Interstate Commerce Act.

According to Wikipedia, The DOJ has 112,500+ employees, and an annual budget of $43.5 billion (as of 2007).

"You see, my friends, you begin to ask the question, 'Who owns the oil?' You begin to ask the question, 'Who owns the iron ore?' You begin to ask the question, 'Why is it that people have to pay water bills in a world that is two-thirds water?" -Martin Luther King Jr.

"I submit that an individual who breaks the law that conscience tells him is unjust and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the very highest respect for law." -Martin Luther King Jr.

"Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them." -Martin Luther King Jr.

[SIDEBAR: One of the most important things that we can do within our growth spurts is to differentiate the lies that we've brought into from our innate truths.]

"Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love." -Martin Luther King Jr.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

According to the Nolo website, an Attorney General is the "Head of the United States Department of Justice and chief law officer of the Federal government. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters, oversees federal prosecutors, and provides legal advice to the President and to heads of executive governmental departments. Each state also has an attorney general, responsible for advising the governor and state agencies and departments about legal issues, and overseeing state prosecuting attorneys."

Today is the 1 year anniversary of the murder of Baron Pikes. Mr. Pikes was killed by a Louisiana police officer, when he was repeatedly tasered while he was handcuffed. The story of Baron Pikes (who is also the first cousin of Jena 6's Mychal Bell) has yet to reach the consciousness of the masses like it should.

According to The New York Daily News, "Federal housing officials will give New York $24 million to buy, renovate, and resell 115 foreclosed homes."

The news source also reveals that in 2008, 3,764 homes were foreclosed in New York City.

My question is: Why can't this financial assistance be given directly to the people who need help saving their domiciles? It now seems that New York is in the real estate business, with some start-up money from the federal government. SMH.

When tainted milk sold on the Chinese market became a fatal poison to numerous infants, the tragedy was reported around the world. China's dairy association, and the 22 dairy companies involved in the deadly tainted milk scandal, are currently offering payouts to families who were affected by the tainted milk in exchange for the families' right to sue.

Some poverty stricken families who lost their children as a result of them ingesting the poisonous milk, are accepting the payout of 200,000 yuan- which equals 29,000 U.S. dollars. Other parents have banned together to reject the payout deal.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the milk conglomerates' offered payout agreement states that families whose children died would receive 200,000 yuan ($29,000). Families whose children got severe kidney stones would receive 30,000 yuan, and families whose children were inflicted with a less severe case of kidney disease would get 2,000 yuan. The Wall Street Journal also states that "as of last month, 861 children were still in the hospital suffering from kidney stones or urinary problems."

"We, as individuals, are fast losing our reputation for honest dealing. Our nation is losing its character. The loss of a firm national character, or the degradation of a nation's honor, is the inevitable prelude to her destruction." -William Wells Brown

Friday, January 16, 2009

Obama and the Democrats have unveiled the details of an $825 billion stimulus package that they hope will revitalize the economy.

The economic plan covers 2 years. According to The Wall Street Journal, it "would be one of the largest single government expenditures in U.S. history" if passed into law. [SIDEBAR: I'm not too sure about that statement. America is probably spending much more on this dead-end war we're currently engaged in.]

The Wall Street Journal states that the plan earmarks: "$79 billion to help States avoid cutbacks in education and other services," and "$43 billion for transportation improvements."

If the Senate decides to support the stimulus package as is, the effect of the economic shot-in-the-are will likely boost the U.S. Economy later this year, and into 2010.

Prominent attorney, Marc Dreier, is accused of stealing an inordinate amount of money from various escrow accounts. He is also accused of selling 9-figures worth of fugazy promissory notes to hedge funds.

The attorney, who once had a staff of over 200 employees, has been held without bail since his arrest regarding the aforementioned charges.

Despite stealing an estimated total of $380 million, Dreier's attorney thinks that his client deserves bail- citing his client's supposed cooperation with authorities. A judge is currently reviewing the matter.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON! (EACH ONE TEACH ONE OR TWO!) THIS IS PHASE ONE ON HOW WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN & EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY:The 2008 not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case evoked outrage, emotion, and debate. It is not an anomaly that the police officers involved in the Sean Bell slaying were acquitted of all charges on all counts in State Supreme Court. I could run out of ink printing the names of people who have been victimized by the inaptly named justice system.

The American justice system has been especially terroristic towards the African American community. Many community members can cite historic and personal accounts to prove this. Therefore, it would be foolhardy (at the least) to turn to a system that has methodically oppressed us, and request that they free us. We can only free ourselves through extreme discipline and intelligent planning.

As a community we have been too compliant with leaders who organize ineffective, delayed reactions. The only strategy that can save us in this last hour is one that calls for a collective code of conduct that will be conducive to improving the conditions of our community, and shifting the paradigm of how we are treated by outside entities. The first step of this code of conduct should be based on economics.

The old adage of “money talks,” still reigns true in the new millennium. Any political scientist worth his or her library card will tell you that: “Economic powerlessness equals political powerlessness,” and conversely “economic power equals political power.” This means that if we continue to allow our wealth to be extracted from our community, we will remain impotent.

The power of the collective “Black Dollar” is often discussed. However, that power has been left unchanneled. Today is the day to change that. A one-time boycott is not going to bring long-term change and respect to our community. Our community has launched boycotts before. Our success and ascension will be based on what we consistently do. For this reason, we should initiate “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS.”

BUY BLACK FRIDAYS is a small step towards our community acquiring power via controlling our economics. Every Friday, people who acknowledge the injustice and oppression that the African American community has been consistently subjected to should do one of the following:

Option #1: Spend $0 on FridayOption #2: Spend no more than $10 on FridayOption #3: Only Shop at Black Businesses on Friday[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE OPTIONS CAN & SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON A DAILY BASIS. However, we can all at the very least focus on Fridays. This way we can take a collective stand and build our collective discipline. Please remember that this is only Phase 1!].

To the people who are tempted to label “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS” as racist, I say this: In the big scheme of things, this is about right & wrong, justice & injustice. The African American community is a strong, proud community that has endured the brunt of America’s iron fist. We must stop the pounding. I feel that any fair-minded individual will concur, and join in.

ANY business that is privileged to enjoy the support of the African American community MUST return that support.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

"We put cooked rice in three glass jars, and to one of the jars we said 'Fool!' To another we said 'Thank you' fermented and had quite a nice fragrance. The rice that was told 'Fool!' darkened and rotted. The rice that was ignored turned black and emitted a highly repugnant smell.

However, that's not the end of the story. I took these same jars of rice to an elementary school, and the students said 'Thank you' to the rice in all three containers. It wasn't long before the rice in all three containers fermented and started to emit a pleasant smell- even the rice that had spoiled.

This indicates that even that which is dying can be brought back to life by caring attention, kind words, and positive thoughts." -From, "The Secret Life Of Water" By: Masaru Emoto

Once a statute becomes law, it is not "written in stone." Laws are amended or repealed on a regular basis. The constant changes to various laws makes it a challenge to have up-to-date information when doing legal research. For example, the online source for the U.S. Code (laws passed by the Senate) is usually a year behind.

For up-to-date U.S. Code, go to The Thomas Library of Congress website (http://Thomas.loc.gov). For up-to-date state laws, you can check a particular state's legislature website.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Officer who fired the fatal shot that killed Oscar Grant (who was unarmed and prostrate at the time of his murder) has been apprehended.

Authorities arrested Johannes Mehserle in Las Vegas. According to CNN, "Mehserle was arrested on a fugitive warrant charging homicide." Reportedly, Johannes Mehserle has waived extradition. He is expected to be returned to the state of California soon.

Dubai, famous for its lavish expenditures, may be being affected by the supposed global financial crunch. Reportedly, values of homes in the country have dropped 8% in the last 3 months. In addition to this, The Wall Street Journal is also reporting that construction on a Dubai skyscraper- which is slated to be the world's tallest building- has been halted. Developers say that construction on the edifice will continue in a year, when the economy is likely to be in a better condition.

According to Wikipedia: A "Default judgment is a binding judgment in favor of the plaintiff when the defendant has not responded to a summons or has failed to appear before a court.

In a civil trial involving damages, a default judgment will enter the amount of damages pled in the original complaint. If proof of damages is required, the court may schedule another hearing on that issue.

A defendant can have a default judgment vacated, or set aside, by filing a motion, after the judgment is entered, by showing of a proper excuse."

About Me

BLOG DISCLAIMER:

The advice and information provided here (legal and otherwise) is NOT given by a licensed professional. It is provided by a rapper who is a concerned citizen. Please consult a licensed professional concerning any and all matters that warrant that you do so.

The purpose of the Legal Eagles Blog is to inform others, and provoke thought & positive change.

Please always remeber: What you don't know can kill you, literally and figuratively.